Synchronizing flexible coupling

ABSTRACT

A synchronizing, flexible coupling includes a pair of conically shaped friction clutch members, one of which is made up of a plurality of contiguous segments. Each of the segments can pivot to and fro on crown teeth and can move back and forth in an axial direction. By pivoting and moving axially during rotation when the friction clutch members make contact, the segments allow the friction clutch members to contact one another without damage, even though the shafts to be coupled are out of alignment with one another.

United States Patent Anderson et al.

1 1 Jan. 23, 1973 SYNCHRONIZING FLEXIBLE Q COUPLING Norman J. Anderson,Fairview; John L. Decker, Erie, both of Pa.

Zurn Industries, Inc., Erie, Pa.

Aug. 2, 1971 Inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

74/448, 192/65 lnt.Cl ..F16d 23/06,Fl6d 3/18,Fl6h 55/12 Field of Search..192/53 B, 53 E, 53 F, 53 G,

US. Cl. ..192/53 E, 64/9 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1932 Tenney ..192/53 E XlO/1939 Peterson ..192/53 E 2,633,954 4/1953 Allen ..192/53 E 3,475,04310/1969 Anderson ..64/9 R X 3,480,123 11/1969 Anderson et al ..64/9 R XPrimary Examiner-Allan D. Herrmann Att0rney-Edward W. Goebel, Jr.

57 ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures N2. on nu ll- N v N 3 N. o NNh- 2 Q QM i PATENTEDJAH 23 I975 sum 1 0F 5 SYNCIIRONIZING FLEXIBLECOUPLING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gear-typecouplings which connect one rotatable shaft to another rotatable shaftand, more particularly, to clutch mechanisms for such couplings whichallow the rotation of both shafts to become synchronized prior tointerconnecting the gears of both shafts with a coupling sleeve or hub.

It is often desirable to connect one rotatable shaft to anotherrotatable shaft so that objects mounted on each-of these shafts can berotated at the same speed. For example, a turbine may be connected toone of these shafts, and an electric generator, which is to be driven bythis turbine, may be mounted on the other of these shafts. Mechanicalcouplings have long been used between these shafts, with these couplingscommonly comprising rotatable assemblies having gears at either endadapted to mesh with gear-teeth provided on hubs or sleeves which aremounted on the ends of the two shafts. Normally, one of these shafts,often referred to as a driving shaft, is continuously connected to thecoupling. The other of the shafts often referred to as the driven shaft,can be connected and disconnected from the coupling as desired.

It has often been desirable to synchronize the speeds of the two shafts,prior to causing th'eteeth of the disconnectable shaft to mesh with theteeth of the coupling, thereby preventing the destruction of gear teethwhich would render the coupling inoperable. Couplings of this type aredescribed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,573 Shenk, No. 3,089,575Pontius, and No. 3,48Q,l23 Anderson, each of which is assigned to theassignee of this invention.

While the synchronizing couplings as described and claimed in theabove-listed patents have'proved to be entirely satisfactory for manyapplications, it is often desirable to interconnect shafts which arerotating at relatively high speeds. lnterconnecting shafts at theserelatively high speeds has provided problems which were not dealt withby prior synchronizing couplings. For example, at high speeds ofrevolution the total coupling, including the clutch mechanism, mustremain in dynamic balance. Couplings including frustro-conically shapedclutch mechanisms have been found to be the most satisfactory from thisstandpoint.

One of the problems which is troublesome with respect to couplingsoperating at all speeds, and which is particularly troublesomeforinterconnecting couplings rotating at relatively high speeds, is thefact that the rotatableshafts which are to be interconnected may bemisaligned with respect to one another. This misalignment can occur ineither a vertical direction or a horizontal direction, or in bothdirections. It can vary in amount during the operation of the shafts dueto factors such as thermal expansion and contraction of the shafts andapparatus connected to the shafts, and the like. When the shafts aremisaligned, the mating portions of the usual clutch mechanisms .are alsomisaligned and an edge or corner of one tends to rub on a surface of theother. Even with the use of the frustroconically shaped clutchmechanisms, misalignment of.v

It is, thus, an object of this invention to provide a synchronizing,flexible coupling which is capable of operating at relatively highspeeds of rotation without adverse effects on the coupling members.

It is another object of this invention to provide a synchronizing,flexible coupling which is capable of causing a pair of shafts rotatingat a relatively high speed to rotate at the same speed without causingdamage orundue wear to the coupling, even though the shafts may bemisaligned with respect to one another.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, and in accordancewith one aspect of this invention, a synchronizing, mechanism causes afirst rotatable shaft to be connected to a second rotatable shaft whenthe speed of rotation of the first shaft equals the speed of rotationofthe second shaft. The synchronizing mechanism is a portion of arotatable assembly or synchronizing flexiblecoupling of the typediscussed above which is normally, continuously connected to the secondrotatable shaft. A flexible clutch mechanism for this coupling comprisesa first member having frustro-conically shaped surface means, and asecond member having surface means for engaging the frustro-conicallyshaped surface means of the first member. One of these members rotateswith the second continuously connected shaft while the other of thesemembers is fastened to the first shaft. The surface means of at leastone of the first and second members comprises a plurality of contiguoussurface members mounted about its axis. Each of these contiguous memberscan rock to and fro in an axial direction, and is also free to slidealong a selected portion of the axis. Thus, if the frustro-conicallyshaped surface means of the first member is misaligned axially withrespect to the second member, the individual surface members are able tomove sufficiently-while the first and second members arecoming intoengagement to prevent damage as a result of misalignment.

The specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter of this invention. Theorganization and manner and process of making and using this invention,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be bestunderstood by reference to the following description. taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. The same number is used todesignate identical parts in more than one drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectionalview of a rotatable coupling assembly according to this invention withthe coupling teeth at one end thereof disengaged;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view'of the rotatable couplingassembly of'FIG. l with the coupling teeth atboth ends engaged;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a segmented, frustroconically shapedmember which comprises a portion of a flexible'clutch mechanism'made inaccordance with this invention; 1

FIG. 4 shows'the position of the T-slot and blocking pin combination andthe teeth-to be coupled, with no engagement between members of theflexible clutch mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the T-slot and blocking pin andthe teeth to be coupled when the members of the flexible clutchmechanism first make contact;

FIG. 6 shows the position of the blocking pin within the T-slot and therelationship of the teeth to be coupled when synchronizing speed isalmost reached;

FIG. 7 shows the position of the pin in the T-slot and the teeth afterthe teeth have been engaged;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing the flexible clutch mechanism ofthis invention in a rotatable clutch assembly which is out of alignmentlaterally, with a parallel offset with respect to a hub to which it isto be coupled;

FIG. 9 shows the non-alignment clutch assembly and hub combination ofFIG. 8 after contact has been made by the members of the flexible clutchmechanism;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment, arotatable coupling assembly according to this invention, with thecoupling teeth disengaged;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotatable couplingassembly of FIG. 10 with the coupling teeth at both ends thereofengaged;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of still another rotatablecoupling assembly according to this invention showing the flexibleclutch mechanism with the teeth coupling disengaged;

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotatable couplingassembly of FIG. 12 with the coupling teeth engaged.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more specifically tothe drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the synchronizing, flexiblecoupling of this invention is used to interconnect a pair of rotatableshafts. In FIG. 1 a synchronizing mechanism 10 is mounted near one endof a rotatable clutch assembly or synchronizing flexible coupling 12which is used to interconnect a rotatable shaft which can be connectedto a hub 14 with .a second rotatable shaft which can be connected to ahub 16. The hubs l4 and 16 are included in the synchronizing flexiblecoupling 12. By way of example, the shaft connected to the hub 14 may bea driving shaft, that is a shaft connected to a source of power such asa turbine, while-the shaft connected to the hub 16 may be a drivenshaft, that is a shaft connected to a load such as an electric generatorwhich is-to be driven by the source of power.

Assuming that the hub 14 is connected to the driving shaft, the hub 14includes a plurality of crown teeth 18 mounted about one end of itsexternal periphery for transmitting power from the driving shaft andthrough a cylindrical sleeve assembly comprising asleeve 20, a spacer22, a sleeve 24, and the hub 16, to the driven shaft. The sleeve 20 hasa plurality of teeth 26 extending in an axial direction on its internalsurface for engaging the crown 18 of the hub 14. Each of the teeth 26has a notch near the interior end thereof adjacent the spacer 22 and anotch 27 at its opposite end. These notches 25 and 27 are engaged by adetent ring 29 mounted in a slot 31 in the hub 14 as the sleeve assemblyis shifted toward the left, as shown in FIG. 1,

and to the right as shown in FIG. 2. The ring 29 may be of the typedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,043 Ander-. son, which is assigned tothe assignee of this invention.

Furthermore, detent pins of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.3,475,043, or other devices known to those skilled in the art may beused for retaining the relative positions of the hub 14 and the sleeve20.

The sleeve 20 is connected to the spacer 22 through the use .of nut andbolt assemblies 28, while the other end of the spacer 22 is connected tothe sleeve 24 through nut and bolt assemblies 30. The spacer 22 includesa pair of flanges 32 and 34 engaged by a shifting collar 36 which isconnected to a mechanism (not shown) for shifting the sleeve assembly,including the sleeves 20, the spacer 22, and the sleeve 24,longitudinally to the left,'as shown in FIG. 1, and longitudinally tothe right as shown in FIG. 2. The mechanism connected to the shiftingcollar 36 may be of the general type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,955Anderson, which is assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The hub 16 includes a plurality of crown teeth 38 mounted about itsexternal periphery. The teeth 38 are adapted to engage a like pluralityof teeth 40 which extend in an axial direction on the internal peripheryof the sleeve 24. When the crown teeth 38 are out of engagement with theteeth 40 on the hub 24, as shown in FIG. 1, power cannot be transmittedthrough the rotatable clutch assembly 12.. However, when the crown teeth38 come into engagement with the teeth 40 of the sleeve 24, as shown inFIG. 2,power can be transmitted from the shaft attached to the hub 14and through the sleeve 20, the spacer 22, and through the sleeve 24 tothe hub 16.

To keep the tips of the disengaged hub teeth 38 in radial alignment withthe sleeve teeth 40, the coupling can be provided with a cylindricalbearing ring (not shown) between the hub teeth 38 and the sleeve 24. Aring of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,45l,5l5 Anderson whichis assigned to the assignee of this invention. Such a ring has aplurality of teeth with slots therebetween to receive the hub teeth 38and keep them in proper alignment with the sleeve teeth'40. As analternative, the right hand end of the sleeve 24, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, may be supported on its exter nalsurface through the use of abearing .whichis held rigid by an external support member.

In accordance with this invention, the teeth 38 of the hub 16, come intoengagement with the teeth 40 of the sleeve 24 while the clutch assemblyis rotating through the use of synchronizing mechanism 10. Thesynchronizing mechanism 10 includes a flexible clutch mechanism whichcomprise a first'member 42 having frustro-conically shaped surface meansand a second member 44 having surface means for engaging thefrustro-conically shaped surface means of the first member. The firstmember 42 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises theintermost portion of the hub 16, while .the second'member 44 comprises aportion of an internal sleeve assembly 46. In further accordance withthis invention, the surface means of at least one of the first andsecond members 42 and 44 comprises a plurality of contiguous surfacemembers mounted about the axis of rotation of this member. In theembodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second member44 is made up of the plurality of contiguous members or sections 48which are mounted about the periphery of an internal sleeve 53.

Referring now to FIG. 3 along with FIGS. 1 and 2, the member 44comprises three contiguous sections 48, each of which has a plurality ofcrown teeth 50 extending axially along its external surface. One of thesections 48 is shown in partial cross section in FIG. 3, while theremaining sections 48 of the member 44 are shown schematically.

Means are provided on the internal sleeve assembly 46 for mounting thesections 48 of the member 44 in such a manner that each of thesecontiguous members can rock to and fro in an axial direction, and eachof these contiguous sections 48 is free to slide back and forth along aselected distance in the axial direction. Thus, the crown teeth 50engage teeth 52 mounted around the internal surface of the sleeve 53 ofthe sleeve assembly 46. A ring assembly 54 acts as a stop which definesthe distance which the sections 48 can move back and forth in an axialdirection while mounted within the sleeve 52. The distance between thering assembly 54 and a flange 56 of the sleeve 53 allows the sections 48of the member 44 to rock to and fro in an axial direction on the crownteeth 50 as well as to slide back and forth axially. As will beexplained more fully below with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, should the hub16 be misaligned with respect to the rotatable clutch assembly 12, thesections 48 of the clutch member 44 are able to move sufficiently byrocking to and fro on the crown teeth 50 and by sliding in an axialdirection so that the frustro-conically shaped clutch member 42 canengage the surface of the member 44 without damaging these members as aresult of this misalignment.

The internal sleeve assembly 46 further includes a synchronizing sleeve58 which is slidably supported on the inner periphery of the spacer 22.A series of blocking pins or cam followers 60 is fastened to the sleeve22, and 'each of the pins extends inwardly within one of an equalplurality of T-shaped slots 62. These slots are shown more clearly inFIGS. 4 through 7. These FIGS. alsoshow the relationship between thecrown teeth 38 of the hub 16 and the teeth 40 of the sleeve 24 withrespect to the blocking pin 60 and the slot 62 both prior to, during,and after the synchronizing process has taken place.

FIGS. 4 through 7 show that the T-shaped slots 62 have acircumferentially extending portion 64 and an axially extending portion66. Walls 68 of the circumferentially extending portion 64 of theT-shaped slot 62. have a slope which is calculated to prevent the teeth38 from engaging the teeth 40 until the speed of rotation of the sleeveassembly of the clutch assembly 12 equals the speed of rotation of thehub 16. That is, until their speeds are synchronized. This type ofblocking pin and slot assembly is more fully disclosed in US. Pat. No.2,640,537 Shenk and No. 3,089,575 Pontius, et al.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a detent ring 70, similar to thering 29, is mounted in a slot 72 of the synchronizing sleeve 58 so as toengage a slot 74 about the internal periphery of the spacer 22. In thismanner, the internal sleeve assembly 46 is normally held in the positionshown in FIG. 1 while the member 42 of the hub 16 is out of engagementwith the member 44 of the flexible clutch mechanism.

OPERATION OFFIG. 1 AND FIG. 2

FIGS. 3 through 9 shall be referred to from time to time to aid inexplaining the operation of the synchronizing mechanism 10 of therotatable clutch assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. First assume that ashaft connected to the hub 14 in FIG. 1 is continuously rotating theclutch assembly 12 with the teeth 40 on the sleeve 24 out of engagementwith the teeth 38 on the hub 16. The total assembly shown in FIG. 1excluding the hub 16, is rotating at a speed determined by the rotationof the shaft connected to the hub 14.

When it is desired to interconnect the shaft coupled to the hub 16 withthe shaft coupled to the hub 14, the mechanism (not shown) attached tothe shifting collar 36 causes this collar to press against the flange 34and shiftthe sleeve assembly, including the sleeve 20, the spacer 22,the sleeve 24, and thus, the internal sleeve assembly 46, to the rightin FIG. 1. Thus, the teeth 40 on the sleeve 24 are moved axially towardthe teeth 38 of the hub 16. At this time, the detent ring engages theslot 74 of the spacer 22 so that the independent axial movement'of theinternal sleeve assembly 46 is limited and the internal sleeve assembly46 moves with the spacer 22. Thus, the member 44 of the synchronizing,flexible coupling 10 is moved axially toward the member 42 of thiscoupling.

Assume that the sleeve assembly of the rotatable clutch assembly 12 isrotating away from the viewer as shown in FIG. 1 and toward the viewerin FIG. 2, as indicated by the arrows at a speed which is faster thanthe speed of rotation (if any) of the hub 16. When the conical surfaceof the-member 42 on the hub 16 first contacts the mating surface of themember 44 on the sleeve 53, the internal sleeve assembly 46 is rotatedtoward the reader with respect to the external sleeve assembly to whichthe pin 60 in connected. That is, prior to contact having been madebetween the surfaces of the members 42 and 44, the pin 60 was presumedto be in a position selected at random in the T-slot which isillustrated in FIG. 4. Because it is assumed that the sleeve assembly isrotating at a speed which is faster than that of the hub 16 when thesurfaces of the members 42 and 44 come into contact, the pins 60 contactthe upper end of the circumferentially extending portion 64 of theT-slot 62. By contacting the upper end of the slot portion 64, the pins60 pull the internal sleeve assembly 46, and thus, the member 44 withthem. Due to the friction between the clutch surfaces of the members 42and 44, the speed of rotation of the hub 16 begins to increase and thespeeds of the hub teeth 38 and the sleeve teeth 40 approachsynchronization.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a schematic diagram of the rotatable clutchassembly12 which is meant for illustrative purposes only. These FIGS. 8 and 9show how the sections 48 of the member 44 are used to allow the rotationof the hub 16 to become synchronized with the rotation of the sleeveassembly without damage to the clutch mechanism, even though the axes ofthe clutch assembly 12 and the hub 16 are out of alignment. Themisalignment between these axes, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is a lateraloffset which still leaves the axes parallel with each other. The conicalsurface of the member 42 is parallel with the mating surface of themember 44 as the sleeve assembly and thus, the surface of the member 44,is moved toward the hub 16 in the manner explained above. Because thesurface of member 42 is parallel with the surface of member 44, thesurface of the member 42 first makes contact with whichever of thesections 48 of the rotating member 44 which is at the uppermost portionof the drawings of FIGS. 8 and 9 at the time of contact. The remainingsections 48 in turn contact the member 44 as rotation of the sleeveassembly continues.

Note that the distance between the ring assembly 54 and flange 56 whichdefine the area in which the members 48 are mounted is greater than thelength of the members 48. The first contact between the surface of themember 42 and the surface of the member 44 causes the uppermost of thesections 48 to move toward the flange 56. Each of the other sections 48is forced into the same position each time it rotates into contact withthe upper portion of the member 42. As the sleeve assembly is movedfarther toward the hub 16, the member 42 reaches a position where thesleeve assembly is lifted upwardly by the hub 16 so that it pivots orbegins to pivot about the crown teeth 18 of the hub 14. FIG. 9 showsthat at about this point, the member 44 is also in such a position thatthe surface of the lower sections 48 thereof can contact the surface ofthe conical member 42.

Further movement of the sleeve assembly toward the hub 16 prior tosynchronizing their speeds is possible without damage to the surfaces of42 and 44 because each of the sections 48 can pivot to and fro and allowthe axis of the rotatable clutch assembly 12 to be at an angle withrespect to the axes of the hubs 14 and 16 during the synchronizingprocess. That is, the axis of the clutch assembly 12 can actually crossthe axes of these hubs during the synchronizing process. Thesynchronizing mechanism is flexible in that the sections 48 of themember 44 can rock to and fro in the axial direction, on the crown teeth50, and can slide along a selected portion of the length of the axis,between the ring assembly 54 and the flange 56. Thus, the conicalsurfaces of the members 42 and 44 can engage each other to allow thespeed of the hub 16 to become synchronized with the speed of the sleeveassembly without damaging the surfaces-of these members. Furthermovement of the teeth 40 toward the teeth 38 when the hub 16 reaches thesynchronizing speed is described below.

Referring now to FIG. 5 along with FIGS. 1 and 2, and assuming the samespeed difference androtation as previously stated, the first contactbetween the surfaces of the members 42 and 44 causes the pin 60 toengage the upper end of the circumferentially extending portion of theslot 62. With the blocking pin in this position, the internal sleeveassembly cannot be moved toward the left in the drawings, nor can thespacer 22 move toward the right. The hub 14 stays in the position shownin FIG. 1 and the teeth 40 cannot engage the teeth 38 on the hub 16.While the pin 60 engages the upper end of the slot, the shifting collar36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 continues to press against the flanges 34 sothat the blocking pin 60 is pressed against the sloping walls 68 of theT-slot 62. The axial force tending to drive the total sleeve assemblytoward the hub 16 is balanced by the frictional force between the pin 60and the sloping cam surfaces68, preventing the continued movement of thesleeve teeth 40 toward the hub teeth 38.

As the hub 16 and the shaft connected thereto are brought to asynchronized speed with the hub 14 and its shaft, the acceleration ofthe hub 16 drops toward zero. With this rotational accelerationdecreasing, the rotational force on the blocking pin also decreases,-

decreasing the component of frictional force on the sloping cam surface68 which has heretofore prevented the movement of the external sleeveassembly to the right toward the hub 16.

When the speed of the hubs l4 and 16 become synchronized, the pin 60slides down the sloping surface 68 of the T-slot 62 and toward theaxially extending portion 66 of this slot, as shownin FIG. 6. Uponsynchronization, the pins 60 enter the axially extending portions 66 ofthe slot 62, allowing the external sleeve assembly to move toward theright and the sleeve teeth 40to become coupled with the hub teeth 38, asshown in FIG. 7. FIG. 2 shows a rotatable clutch assembly having theteeth 38 engage with the teeth 40.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the synchronizing mechanism 10 provided withthe flexible clutch mechanism of this invention, allows clutch assemblyto pivot freely on the crown teeth of the hubs 14 and 16. Furthermore,the individual sections 48 of the clutch member 44 can pivot to allowincreased flexibility in the movement of the clutch members during thesynchronizing process. Thus, whether the shafts to be interconnected aremisaligned laterally, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or are misalignedangularly so that the axis of one of the shafts intersects that of theother of the shafts, the rotatable clutch assembly 12 can pivot betweenthe position of the hubs of both shafts: both while the speeds of theshafts are being synchronized and after the synchronizing speed isreached.

The first embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is forillustrative purposes only. It is possible to provide many variations inthe structure of the synchronizing flexible coupling of this invention.Thus, any number of sections 48 may be provided as parts of the member44, and these sections may be provided as a portion of a sleeve assemblyas shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may be provided as portions of a hubassembly. It is necessary that the angles between the individual teeth50 of the sections 48, as shown in FIG. 3 allow the sections 48 to beretained in their mounting positions as the number of sections 48 isincreased.

The type of mechanism which prevents the hub teeth 38 and sleeve teeth40 from engaging until the hub 16 reaches synchronizing speed is notcritical to this invention and the blocking pin and T-slot arrangementshown herein may be eliminated, as with a pure friction drive and/orreplaced in accordance with the needs of those skilled in the art. Theclearance for the sections 48 as mounted in the internal sleeve 53 hasbeen exaggerated somewhat for the purpose of illustration. For someapplications, the clearance need be-only such as will permit V4mechanical misalignment between the axis of the sleeve assembly and thehubs 14 and 16. While not necessarily limited to clutch assembliesoperating at any particular range of speeds, this invention isparticularly useful for clutch assemblies rotating at relatively highspeeds, for example, in the range of from about 3,000 RPM to about10,000 RPM.

While it is necessary for the purposes of this invention to have thesections 48 pivotably mounted as shown in the drawings, it is notnecessary to use crown teeth for this purpose. Thus, the crown teeth 50may be replaced with other suitable means for allowing the sections 48to rock to and fro in an axial direction. Where this pivoting or rockingaction has been desired for the main coupling teeth of other types ofcouplings not using crown teeth, extensions have been provided on thehub teeth and the pivoting action was obtained through these extensions.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. AND 1 1 FIGS. 10 through 13 are included to showsome of the various types of couplings on which this invention can beused. The examples shown are not exhaustive of the various types ofcouplings with which the invention can be used, but are included toillustrate the wide variety of uses to which this invention can be put.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict a quill shaft drive arrangement which is typicalof installations used for large marine applications. The drive mechanismcomprises a quill shaft 100 which is normally the drive shaft. Therotatable clutch assembly or synchronizing, flexible coupling 102 isused to interconnect the quill shaft 100 with a pinion shaft 104. Thequill shaft 100 rotates within the pinion shaft 104.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the quill shaft 100 is disconnected from thepinion shaft 104 because hub teeth 106, which are mounted on a hub 108at the left of FIG. 10 are out of engagement with sleeve teeth 110 whichare mounted near the left end of a sleeve 112. The hub 108 is splined tothe driven pinion shaft as generally shown at 114. The remaining portionof the rotatable clutch assembly 102 is splined to the quill shaft 100as generally shown at 116. Thus, this remaining portion of the rotatableclutch assembly 102 rotates with the quill shaft. The hub 108 rotateswith the pinion shaft 104. It rotates with the quill shaft 100 only whenconnected through the teeth 106 and 110 or the synchronizing mechanismas explained below.

The assembly 102 includes a hub 118 having a chamber housing 120fastened thereto to receive a piston 122. The hub 118 is splined to thequill shaft 100 as discussed above. The housing for the piston 122 iscompleted through the use of a back plate 124 having a plurality ofcrown teeth 126 mounted about its external periphery. The crown teeth126 engage sleeve teeth 128 which are mounted within the sleeve 112. Adetent ring 130 is provided in a slot 132 to engage notches 134 and 136in the teeth 128.

The crown teeth 126 continuously engage the sleeve teeth 128 both whilethe hub teeth 106 and the sleeve teeth 110 are out of engagement witheach other, as shown in FIG. 10, and while they are in engagement witheach other as shown in FIG. 11. The teeth 126 and 128 are comparable tothe teeth 18 and the teeth 26, respectively, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thedetent ring 130 is used for the same purpose as the detent ring 29 ofFIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, the functions of the hub teeth 106 and thesleeve teeth 110 are comparable to those of the hub teeth 38 and thesleeve teeth 40 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The piston assembly itself further includes a Belleville washer 138mounted between annular members 140 and 142 which are fastened to theright end of the sleeve 112 through the use of bolts 144. The annularmembers 140 and 142 form a slot 146 which allows room for the Bellevillewasher 138 to snap from one position to the other when engaged by eitheran end member 148 or an end member 150 fastened to the piston 122. Aspacer 152 is mounted between the members 148 and 150 so that theBelleville washer 138 fits therebetween to be contacted by the member148, as the piston 122 moves toward the left in FIGS. 10 and 11, and tobe contacted by the member 150 as the piston 122 moves toward the rightin these FIGS.

The piston 122 is the means by which members 154 and 156 of the flexibleclutch mechanism of this invention are caused to engage one another. Thepiston 122 includes a piston head 158 which can be forced to the left,as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, by fluid forced through a passageway 160.The piston 122 can be forced to the right by the pressure of fluidflowing through a passageway 162. Piston rings 164 are seals for thepiston chamber.

With the piston 122 at the right end of its chamber and the hub teeth106 out of engagement with the sleeve teeth 110, the housing 120 engagesa portion of an internal sleeve assembly 166 which comprises a portionof the synchronizing mechanism 168 which is made in accordance with thisinvention. This synchronizing mechanism includes the members 154 and 156which comprise a flexible clutch mechanism which is similar to that madeup of the members 42 and 44 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The member 156 comprises aplurality of contiguous sections mounted on a sleeve 170.

As shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the member 44 of FIGS. 1 and 2, thecontiguous surface members are pivotably mounted on the sleeve 170 sothat they can rock to and fro in an axial direction and can slide alonga selected portion of the axis of the sleeve 170. Crown teeth 172 of themember 156 are used for mounting purposes. These teeth engage teeth 174which are mounted within the sleeve 170.

The synchronizing mechanism of FIG. 10 further includes a T-slot 176 andpin 178 which are used for synchronizing purposes in the same manner asthe T- slot 62 and pin 60 of FIGS. 1 and 2. A detent ring 180 engages aslot 182 within the sleeve 112. The detent ring 180 normally holds theinternal sleeve assembly 166 in the position shown in FIG. 10 while themember 154, which comprises a portion of the hub 108, is out ofengagement with the member 156 of the internal sleeve assembly. Thedetent ring 180 is similar to the detent ring 70 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIG. 10 with respect to the operation of thesynchronizing, flexible coupling shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the crownteeth 106 which are fastened to the pinion shaft 104 are out ofengagement with the gear-teeth 110 which rotate with the quill shaft100. To actuate the synchronizing, flexible coupling 102 so as to causethe teeth 106 to engage the teeth 110, fluid such as air or oil isforced through the passageway 160 from passages in the quill shaft (notshown). Pressure against the pistonhead 158 causes it to move toward theleft in FIG. 10. The end member 148 of the piston 122 engages theBelleville washer 138 and through this engagement moves the sleeve 112and the internal sleeve assembly 166 toward the left in FIG.

10. The teeth 110 and the sleeve 112 are, thus, moved toward the crownteeth 106. The movement continues until the contiguous surface membersof the cone-like member 156 engage the surface of the conical member154. Through this friction engagement, the speed of rotation of thepinion shaft 104 is synchronized with the speed of rotation of the quillshaft 100. The individual contiguous members ofthe cone-like member 156of the flexible clutch mechanism can pivot on the crown teeth 172 in theevent that the quill shaft and the pinion shaft 104 are not perfectlyaligned.

Furthermore these contiguous members can move back and forth in thespace on the sleeve 170 in which they are mounted. In this manner, asexplained above with respect to the flexible clutch mechanism shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the axis of the segmented cone-like member 156 can beeffectively placed at an angle with respect to the axes of the shafts100 and 104. The individual contiguous segments of the member 156 canoscillate between positions of contact with the member 154 which arenecessary due to the misalignment.

The T-slot 176 and pin 178 coact to allow the teeth 106 and 1 to engagewhen the speed of the shaft 104 is synchronized with the speed of theshaft 100 as explained with respect to the T-slots and pins shown inFIGS. 4 through 7.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 12 AND 13 FIGS. 12 and 13 show a portion of arotatable clutch assembly or synchronizing, flexible coupling 200 of thetype which is used for heavy duty applications. These drawings show onlythat portion of the rotatable clutch assembly 200 which includes thesynchronizing mechanism and flexible clutch mechanism of this invention.The assembly itself comprises a coupling shaft 202 which is. splined toa coupling hub 204 as shown generally at 206. The coupling hub 204includes hub teeth 208 which are adapted to be connected to teeth 210 ofa sleeve assembly 212.

A portion of a synchronizing mechanism 214 is included on the hub 204.T-slots 216 are formed in the hub 204, and a pressure ring 218 ismounted about the periphery of the hub 204. Pins 220 are attached to thepressure ring 218 so as to coact with the T-slots 216 in the mannerdescirbed with respect to the T-slots 62 and pins 60 in FIGS. 1 and 2.When the speeds of the two shafts connected to the clutch assembly orsynchronizing, flexible coupling 200 are synchronized, the pin 220 canmove in an axial direction within the T-slot 216 so as to allow the hub208 to move toward the right in FIG. 12 to the position shown in FIG.13. In this manner, the crown hub teeth 208 are connected to the sleeveteeth 210 when the sleeve of the two shafts are synchronized.

The synchronizing mechanism 214 further includes a flexible clutchmechanism in accordance with this invention including clutch members 222and 224. In this embodiment of the invention, the clutch member 224 ispivotably mounted on a sleeve 226. The distance between a flange 228 ofthe sleeve 226 and one end of a sleeve 230 of the sleeve assembly 212defines the area in which the contiguous clutch members of the member224 have to move back and forth in an axial direction. Crown teeth 232allow the contiguous clutch members of the member 224 to rock to and froin an axial direction as described above with respect to the flexibleclutch mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIGS. 10 and 11. Thecrown teeth 232 engage teeth 234 of the sleeve 226 for mountingpurposes. The sleeve assembly 212 further includes an annular member 236which is connected to the sleeve 230 through bolt assemblies 238. Theannular member 236 is adapted to be connected to a shaft which, by wayof example, is assumed to be the driven shaft. The drive shaft isnormally, continuously coupled to the coupling shaft 202 through asleeve assembly (not shown) having elongated sleeve teeth for engagingcrown teeth of a hub which is fastened to the other end of the couplingshaft 202.

To actuate the synchronizing, flexible coupling shown in FIG. 12, thecoupling shaft 202 is moved toward the right. A shifting collar andflange arrangement similar to that shown with respect to the shiftingcollar 36 of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be used for this purpose. As explainedwith respect to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIGS. 10and 11, the crown teeth 208 move toward the sleeve teeth 210 until themembers 222 and 228 of the flexible clutch mechanism make contact. Atthe time, the T-slot 216 and the pin or cam follower 220 prevent furthermovement of the crown teeth 208 toward the teeth 210 until the rotationof the shafts to be coupled is synchronized.

Again, as explained above, the individual contiguous members 228 canpivot or rock to and fro and can move back and forth in an axialdirection between the flange 228 of the sleeve 226 and the end of thesleeve 230. Thus, the effective axis of the member 224 of the flexibleclutch mechanism can be changed to allow the surface of the member 222to contact the surface of the member 224 without damage to either ofthese even though the shafts to be interconnected are misaligned.

It is to, be understood, of course, that the embodiments of thisinvention set forth herein are described in detail to present a full andclear description of the invention, and this invention is not limited tothe details of the particular embodiments presented. Accordingly,various changes,,modifications, and substitutions may be made in theembodiments described herein without departing from the true scope andspirit of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A synchronizing mechanism for causing a first rotatable shaft to beconnected to a second rotatable shaft when the speed of rotation of thefirst shaft equals the speed of rotation of the second shaft, "saidsynchronizing mechanism comprising a portion of a rotatable clutchassembly which is normally, continuously connected to the secondrotatable shaft, said synchronizing mechanism including a flexibleclutch mechanism comprising, in combination:

a. A first member having frustro-conically shaped surface means;

b. A second member having surface means for engaging saidfrustro-conicallyshaped surface means of said first member, with one ofsaid first and second members rotating with the second rotatable shaftand theother of said first and second members including means forfastening it to the first rotatable shaft; and

c. The clutch surface of at least one of said first and second memberscomprising a plurality of contiguous surface members, means forpivotably mounting said contiguous members about the axis of said atleast one member so that each of said contiguous members can rock to andfro in an axial direction and can slide along a selected portion of theaxis of said member.

2. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein saidcontiguous surface members are pivotably mounted on gear-teeth within asleeve assembly.

3. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said firstmember comprises a hub fastened to a rotatable shaft and said secondmember is mounted within a sleeve assembly comprising a portion of therotatable clutch assembly which is normally, continuously connected tothe second rotatable shaft through the use of pivotable connectingmeans.

4. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 3 wherein saidcontiguous surface members comprise said second member.

5. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly includes axially extending gear-teeth which are to becoupled to axially extented teeth on said hub, with one of said sets ofgear-teeth comprising crown gear-teeth and the pivotable connectingmeans between the rotatable clutch assembly comprising crown gear-teeth.

6. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly includes gearteeth having means which allow the assemblyto be connected to gear-teeth attached to the shafts with the axis ofrotation of the rotatable clutch assembly intersecting the axes ofrotation of the shafts.

7. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly is connectable to a pinion shaft and to a quill shaftmounted within the pinion shaft.

8. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly includes a pressure actuated piston to actuate saidsynchronizing mechanism, a hub connectable to the pinion shaft, a sleeveassembly connectable to the quill shaft, and said contiguous surfacemembers being mounted within the sleeve assembly.

9. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly includes a sleeve assembly connectable to the firstrotatable shaft and includes a coupling shaft, with said sleeve assemblyincluding means for mounting said contiguous surface members.

10. A synchronizing, flexible coupling for connecting a first rotatableshaft to a second rotatable shaft; said synchronizing, flexible couplingincluding a rotatable sleeve assembly having sleeve gear-teeth mountedtherein and including first and second hubs adapted to be attached tothe first rotatable shaft and to the second rotatable shaft,respectively; each of said hubs including hub gear-teeth to cause saidhubs to slidably and pivotably interconnect with said sleeve throughsaid sleeve gear-teeth; means for normally causing the second rotatableshaft to be continuously connected through said hub and sleeve teeth tosaid synchronizing flexible coupling; said synchronizing flexiblecoupling further including a synchronizing mechanism for causmg therotation of said sleeve assembly to become synchronized with therotation of the first shaft prior to allowing said hub teeth on saidfirst hub to become interconnected with said sleeve-teeth; saidsynchronizing mechanism including a flexible clutch mechanismcomprising, in combination:

a. A first member having frustro-conically shaped surface means;

b. A second member having surface means for engaging saidfrustro-conicallyshaped surface means of said first member, one of saidfirst and second members rotating with said sleeve assembly and theother of said first and second members including means for fastening itto the first rotatable shaft;

. The clutch surface of at least one of said first and second memberscomprising a plurality of contiguous surface members pivotably mountedabout its axis to allow each of said contiguous members to rock to andfro in an axial direction and mounting means for said contiguous memberswhich allow said contiguous members to slide along a selected portion ofthe axis of said at least one member.

11. A synchronizing, flexible coupling according to claim 10 whereinsaid contiguous surface members comprise said second member and aremounted within said sleeve assembly.

12. A synchronizing, flexible coupling according to claim 11 whereinsaid contiguous surface members are pivotably mounted on crown teeth.

1. A synchronizing mechanism for causing a first rotatable shaft to beconnected to a second rotatable shaft when the speed of rotation of thefirst shaft equals the speed of rotation of the second shaft, saidsynchronizing mechanism comprising a portion of a rotatable clutchassembly which is normally, continuously connected to the secondrotatable shaft, said synchronizing mechanism including a flexibleclutch mechanism comprising, in combination: a. A first member havingfrustro-conically shaped surface means; b. A second member havingsurface means for engaging said frustro-conically shaped surface meansof said first member, with one of said first and second members rotatingwith the second rotatable shaft and the other of said first and secondmembers including means for fastening it to the first rotatable shaft;and c. The clutch surface of at least one of said first and secondmembers comprising a plurality of contiguous surface members, means forpivotably mounting said contiguous members about the axis of said atleast one member so that each of said contiguous members can rock to andfro in an axial direction and can slide along a selected portion of theaxis of said member.
 2. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 1wherein said contiguous surface members are pivotably mounted ongear-teeth within a sleeve assembly.
 3. A synchronizing mechanismaccording to claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a hub fastenedto a rotatable shaft and said second member is mounted within a sleeveassembly comprising a portion of the rotatable clutch assembly which isnormally, continuously connected to the second rotatable shaft throughthe use of pivotable connecting means.
 4. A synchronizing mechanismaccording to claim 3 wherein said contiguous surface members comprisesaid second member.
 5. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 4wherein the rotatable clutch assembly includes axially extendinggear-teeth which are to be coupled to axially extented teeth on saidhub, with one of said sets of gear-teeth comprising crown gear-teeth andthe pivotable connecting means between the rotatable clutch assemblycomprising crown gear-teeth.
 6. A synchronizing mechanism according toclaim 1 wherein the rotatable clutch assembly includes gear-teeth havingmeans which allow the assembly to be connected to gear-teeth attached tothe shafts with the axis of rotation of the rotatable clutch assemblyintersecting the axes of rotation of the shafts.
 7. A synchronizingmechanism according to claim 6 wherein the rotatable clutch assembly isconnectable to a pinion shaft and to a quill shaft mounted within thepinion shaft.
 8. A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 7 whereinthe rotatable clutch assembly includes a pressure actuated piston toactuate said synchronizing mechanism, a hub connectable to the pinionshaft, a sleeve assembly connectable to the quill shaft, and saidcontiguous surface members being mounted within the sleeve assembly. 9.A synchronizing mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the rotatableclutch assembly includes a sleeve assembly connectable to the firstrotatable shaft and includes a coupling shaft, with said sleeve assemblyincluding means for mounting said contiguous surface members.
 10. Asynchronizing, flexible coupling for connecting a first rotatable shaftto a second rotatable shaft; said synchronizing, flexible couplingincluding a rotatable sleeve assembly having sleeve gear-teeth mountedtherein and including first and second hubs adapted to be attached tothe first rotatable shaft and to the second rotatable shaft,respectively; each of saiD hubs including hub gear-teeth to cause saidhubs to slidably and pivotably interconnect with said sleeve throughsaid sleeve gear-teeth; means for normally causing the second rotatableshaft to be continuously connected through said hub and sleeve teeth tosaid synchronizing flexible coupling; said synchronizing flexiblecoupling further including a synchronizing mechanism for causing therotation of said sleeve assembly to become synchronized with therotation of the first shaft prior to allowing said hub teeth on saidfirst hub to become interconnected with said sleeve-teeth; saidsynchronizing mechanism including a flexible clutch mechanismcomprising, in combination: a. A first member having frustro-conicallyshaped surface means; b. A second member having surface means forengaging said frustro-conically shaped surface means of said firstmember, one of said first and second members rotating with said sleeveassembly and the other of said first and second members including meansfor fastening it to the first rotatable shaft; c. The clutch surface ofat least one of said first and second members comprising a plurality ofcontiguous surface members pivotably mounted about its axis to alloweach of said contiguous members to rock to and fro in an axial directionand mounting means for said contiguous members which allow saidcontiguous members to slide along a selected portion of the axis of saidat least one member.
 11. A synchronizing, flexible coupling according toclaim 10 wherein said contiguous surface members comprise said secondmember and are mounted within said sleeve assembly.
 12. A synchronizing,flexible coupling according to claim 11 wherein said contiguous surfacemembers are pivotably mounted on crown teeth.